The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 eBook

Vaisampayana continued, “After this, all of
them went to king Yudhishthira the just. And
going unto the king, they represented unto him everything
about Duryodhana’s conduct. And Ajatasatru,
hearing everything that the Gandharvas had said, liberated
all the Kauravas and applauded the Gandharvas.
And the king said, ’Fortunate it is for us that
though gifted with great strength, ye did not yet slay
the wicked son of Dhritarashtra along with all counsellors
and relatives. This, O sir, hath been an act
of great kindness done to me by the Gandharvas.
The honour also of my family is saved by liberating
this wicked wight. I am glad at seeing you all.
Command me what I am to do for you. And having
obtained all you wish, return ye soon whence ye came!’

“Thus addressed by the intelligent son of Pandu,
the Gandharvas became well-pleased and went away with
the Apsaras. And the lord of the celestials then,
coming to that spot, revived those Gandharvas that
had been slain in the encounter with the Kurus, by
sprinkling the celestial Amrita over them.
And the Pandavas also, having liberated their relatives
along with the ladies of the royal household, and having
achieved that difficult feat (the defeat of the Gandharvas
host) became well-pleased. And those illustrious
and mighty warriors worshipped by the Kurus along
with their sons and wives, blazed forth in splendour
like flaming fires in the sacrificial compound.
And Yudhishthira then addressing the liberated Duryodhana
in the midst of his brothers, from affection, told
him these words: ’O child, never again do
such a rash act. O Bharata, a rash wight never
cometh by happiness. O son of the Kuru race,
pleased be thou with all thy brothers. Go back
to thy capital as pleaseth thee, without yielding
thyself to despondency or cheerlessness!’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Thus dismissed by the
son of Pandu, king Duryodhana then saluted king Yudhishthira
the just and overwhelmed with shame, and his heart
rent in twain, mechanically set out for his capital,
like one destitute of life. And after the Kaurava
prince had departed, the brave Yudhishthira, the son
of Kunti, along with his brothers, was worshipped
by the Brahmanas, and surrounded by those Brahmanas
endued with the wealth of asceticism, like Sakra himself
by the celestials, he began to pass his days happily
in the woods of Dwaita.”

SECTION CCXLV

Janamejaya said, “After his defeat and capture
by the foe and his subsequent liberation by the illustrious
sons of Pandu by force of arms, it seemeth to me that
the entry into Hastinapura of the proud, wicked, boastful,
vicious, insolent, and wretched Duryodhana, engaged
in insulting the sons of Pandu and bragging of his
own superiority, must have been exceedingly difficult.
Describe to me in detail, O Vaisampayana, the entry
into the capital, of that prince overwhelmed with
shame and unmanned by grief!”